Switch-stand.



PATENTBD JAN. 28, 1908.

F. G. SNOOK. SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1907.

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PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK G. SNOOK, OF SA GRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

SWITCH-STAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1908.

Application filed July 1, 1907- Serial No. 381.642.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK G. SNOOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sacramento, in the State of California, have invented. new and useful Improvements in Switch-Stands, of which the following is a specification.

Nly invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in switch-stands and means for permanently locking the same to insure the main line or track being with certainty locked in open position, and to enable a train to run through on a main line without possibility of being run into a siding because of the carelessness or negligence of the operator whose duty it is to set the switch for the succeeding train.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction of switch-stands, more especi'ally the means for locking the switch lever to the stand, and wherein the key used for unlocking the switch lever is trapped and revented from withdrawal from its place after the locking devices have been once released and until the released parts have been again brought into normal position and again locked.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangements of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departure from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a switch stand embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation from another side of the stand, showing the lower portion of the stand broken away and showing the switch. lever released and turned to one side. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the lock showing the faceplate removed. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view of an operating key.

In the said drawings, may be of the usual or any well known and appropriate construction, such stand having a suitable base by which it is secured in place and having at the upper end a cap plate 11 which is turnably mounted and is connected the switch-stand 10 with the switch-operating means in the usual or any desired manner. Suitably journaled in this stand is the vertical signalshaft,. 12, commonly used in switch-stands, said shaft being usually provided at its lower end with a crank or equivalent means adapted to be coupled to the switch-rail of the track for throwing said rail in its several directions.

Pivotally connected to a sleeve 2 on the vertical signal-shaft, 12, is the switch lever, 13, which when in normal position hangs down close beside the switch stand, and is held in place by a lug, 3, which is the equivalent of a fixed hasp and which enters between the forks of the lever, said lug or hasp having an opening to admit one of the arms of a shackle which 1 will presently describe. The arrangement of these arts does not depart materially from a well known form of switch stand, and when the lever is released and lifted up so as to clear the cap plate, or project horizontally and radially away from the cap plate, it gives sufficient purchase or leverage l so that the cap-plate maybe turned around upon the body of the stand, and with it the si nal shaft is turned. The switch lever is fu crumed on the bolt, 4, and when it is raised about this fulcrum, it also raises the sleeve and cap and through well known connections, not shown, operates the switch rail. The construction thus far described is similar to that commonly found in switch stands consequently I do not claim the same as my invention. Connected to or associated with this mechanism is my improved locking means. This locking means com prises a padlock of that type employing a slidably double-armed shackle and a key adapted to be trapped by the release of the shackle and be released only when the shackle and lock-case have been properly brought together and the mechanism interlocked. As shown in Fig. 2, I connect one of the parts of the lock, say the shackle, 20, to the fixed portion of the switch stand, and 1 rigidly secure the companion part of the lock to the operating switch lever, 13, this being the portion which contains the locking-mechanism proper and also carries the trapped key which the brakeman is compelled to manipulate in closing a switch. The part of the lock which is secured to, the lever comprises a lock case, 21, of appropriate form and dimensions, having a right-angle flange, 22, on its rear face thereby adapting the lockcase to be securely bolted to the side of the as shown by dotted In the lower or inner end of operating switch lever,

lines in Fig. 2.

the lock-case and slidably-mounted between the side walls thereof, is the 23, of substantially middle portion is of which is the post or pin, 24, which receives the barrel of the operating key. Beneath this yoke between the same and the wall of the lock-case are cushions or springs, 25, one

yoke or block, U-shape except that its or more, the purpose of which is to elevate or project the yoke or block slightly when the shacklehas been unlocked for removal from the lock-case. The yoke or block, 23, is also formed with a curved flange, 26, which is adapted to engage a groove, 27, formed in each of the bits of th the shackle has been unlocked and removed from the lockcase, whereby the key is trapped by the yoke and cannot be removed from the lock case until said yoke has first been retracted to withdraw the flange, 26, out of its engagement with the groove, 27, of the key bit, this operation occurring when the shackle is again inserted into the lock-case, and forced into its locked position therein.

The shackle, 20, is of U-sha'pe having two parallel arms, 20, adapted to enter between guides, 30, formed in the lock-case, the inner ends of the shackle arms being adapted to contact with the arms of the yoke, 23, and depress said yoke against the action of its cushions or springs, 25, when the shackle is inserted in its locked position, said cushions or springs elevating or projecting the yoke to cause its curved flange to engage an inserted key, 28, and trap the latter when the shackle is unlatched or withdrawn to allow the switch-stand to be opened. The arms of the shackle, 20, are also provided with slots or recesses, 31, adapted to receive the hookshaped ends, 32, of the two dogs or levers, 33,

pivotally-mounted between the front and back faces of the lock case. These dogs or levers are located substantially equi-distant upon each side of the vertical center of the lock case, and their hook-shaped ends extend in opposite directions and are adapted to automatically engage the slots or recesses in the arms of the shackle when the latter are brought into register with said hook-shaped ends. To insure this action, a suitable spring, 34, coiled about a post, 35, in the lock case, has its opposite ends bearing against the levers or dogs and exerting a pressure in opposite directions to force the hook-shaped ends of the dogs outwardly towards the sides of the lock-case, and to permit the dogs or levers to yield and move inwardly when the ower or inner ends of the arms of the shackle and which ends are preferably beveled, contact with the curved surfaces of the hookshaped ends 32. The lower or inner end of one of the levers or dogs is provided with a hook-shaped portion, 36, and the correspondformed on an arc the center e operating key, 28, after ing lever or dog is provided with a notch, 37, with which and a corresponding notch formed by the hook portion, 36, of the other dog the bits of the key are adapted to register and to engage to prevent a backward movement of the key after said key has been turned sufficient to release the hook-shaped ends, 32, of the dogs or levers from the arms of the shackle.

In connection with this look I may use a key of suitable construction, the one shown in Fig. 4 being well adapted for my purpose. The key herein shown comprises a suitable barrel adapted to fit over the stem or stud, 24, and two oppositely extending bits having straight sides, 38, on one side arranged in line upon opposite sides of the axis of the key and having the opposite sides or outer surfaces rounded to better engage the'pivoted, spring-pressed dogs before mentioned, whereby when the parts are to be unlocked and the key is inserted, the first movement of the key say to the right, causes the bits to contact with the dogs or levers at one side of their pivots and thereby withdraw the hookshaped opposite ends of said levers or dogs out of engagement with the slots or recesses in the arms of the shackle.

As soon as the ends of the bits come into register with the notches in the inner or lower ends of the levers, the spring, 34;, closes the lower ends of said levers into contact with the straight sides, 38, of the bits and thereby prevents the key being turned back- Ward. The shackle being released from its locked position in the case may now be readily pulled out of the case and as soon as this is done, the springs or cushions beneath the yoke, 23, advance this yoke and thus project the curved flange, 26, thereof into the range of action of the key bits so that as the key is turned, to bring it into register with the keyhole in the face-plate of the case, the said curved flange will ride into the slot in the key-bit and thus trap the key and prevent its removal from the lock case until the shackle has been again restored to its normal position and the yoke depressed or retracted to carry the curved flange, 26, out of engagement with the recess or slot in the key-bit.

It will be understood, of course, that when the key has been partially turned to carry its bits out of register with the slot in the face plate of the lock said key cannot be withfitted to the shackle. To prevent the disen gagement of the shackle from the chain, said shackle is provided with enlargements at 4-2 of greater size than the eye in the end of the chain to which the shackle is attached.

In practice and assuming the switch stand to be in locked position and it is desired to throw the switch to a siding, the brakeman being supplied with the proper switch key, will approach the stand and insert his key into the lock and then turn the key to move the spring-pressed dogs out of engagement with the shackle. As this is done the springpressed yoke moves outwardly to project its flange into the range of action of the key bits to trap the key and prevent its removal until the parts have been restored to normal position. The shackle is now removed and the switch lever pulled outwardly and the switch turned to the proper position. As the key is trapped in the lock it is manifest that the brakeman cannot remove his key until the switch has been restored to its normal position, say with the main line open, consequently he must bring his lever back to its first position and then bring the lock-case and shackle together and press the shackle home to allow the spring pressed dogs to v in normal position,

engage and hold the shackle, and the yoke to be depressed by the shackle to untrap the key and allow it to be removed from the lock. This insures the main line being always looked in an open position, it being my purpose that this switch stand shall not be locked for a siding but only for the main line consequently the switch must be set for the main line before the key can be withdrawn.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I'claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1 The combination with the switch-stand, the signal shaft, and a switch lever con nected to said shaft, of means for locking the lever to the stand, said means comprising a r lock-case and a shackle to slidably engage the same, one of said parts being secured to the switch-lever and the other to the switchstand, said lockcase having locking dogs adapted to interlock with the shackle, a key engaging the dogs to release the shackle, and a yoke slidably-mounted in the lockcase adapted to be engaged and depressed by the shackle when the two parts the locks are said yoke adapted to be advanced coordinately with the release of the shackle and having means for trapping the key and holding said key trapped during the time the shackle is removed from the lock case.

2. The combination with the switch-stand, the signal-shaft, and a switch-lever, of means for locking the lever to the stand, said means comprising a lockcase and a shackle to slidably engage the same, one of said parts being secured to the switch-lever and the other to the switch-stand, said lock-case having means for engaging and locking the shackle in the lock-case, and said lock-case having means for trapping the key substantially coordinately with the release of the shackle, said trapping means being actuated by the restoring of the shackle to its normal position, to release said key and allow it to be re moved from the lock-case.

3. The combination with the switch-stand, the signal shaft, and the switch lever, of means for locking the lever to the stand, said means comprising a lock-case and a shackle adapted to slidably engage the same, springpressed dogs within the lock-case adapted to be engaged by and to interlock with the shackle to hold the parts in locked position, a spring pressed yoke within the lock-case engaged by the inner ends of the shackle and normally depressed thereby, and a key operable in the lock-case adapted to release the dogs from their engagement with the shackle, said yoke adapted to start the shackle out of the lock case when said shackle is released by the dogs, and said yoke having means for trapping the key coordinately with the unlocklng of the shackle, said shackle operating to depress the yoke and release the key when the shackle is returned to normal position in the lock-case.

4. The combination with the switch-stand, the signal shaft, and an operating switchlever, of a lockcase secured to the switchlever and comprising pivotally mounted spring pressed dogs having hook shaped ends, and a spring-pressed yoke in said case; a shackle, permanently attached to the switch-stand and having arms to slidably engage the lock-case, said arms adapted to engage and depress the dogs when the shackle is inserted into said case, the arms of the shackle having slots or recesses into engagement with which the hook-shaped ends of the dogs are pressed when the parts are in register, and said arms extending beyond the dogs and into engagement with the spring-pressed yoke whereby the latter is depressed and held under tension when the parts of the lock are engaged; and a key for operating the dogs to release the shackle, said yoke serving to start the released shackle out of the lock-case to carry its slots or re cesses out of register with the dogs and said yoke having a flange or projection adapted to move into the range of action of the key to thereby trap the key coordinately with the release of the shackle, and said shackle serving to depress the yoke and release the key coordinately with the engagement of the dogs with the shackle.

5. The combination of a switch stand; the signal-shaft; a switch lever; a lock case having a transverse flange by which it is secured to said lever; pivotally mounted spring pressed locking dogs in said case;

I shackle having means guides formed in opposite sides of the case; a l shackle having arms to slidably engage said guides, said arms being provided With slots or recesses into Which the dogs s ring When they are in register therewith; a flexible connection for permanently attaching the shackle to a stationary part of the switch-stand, said to prevent its detach-' ment from said connection; a substantially U shaped shackle operated yoke slidablymounted in the lock-case and having its arms arranged in line With said guides, said arms adapted to be engaged by the arms of the shackle When the shackle is inserted into the case, to depress said yoke; springs or cushions acting upon the yoke 1n opposition to the pressure exerted thereon by the shackle;

FRANK G. SNOOK.

Witnesses:

T. W. FOWLER, O. W. FOWLER. 

